Riverside, Conn.—Calling it the most successful program it has ever run, the Carpet Cushion Council (CCC) is once again presenting its Certification Program to the retail community. Designed to assist dealers in educating their customers with the best cushion choice, thus increasing profits, the Carpet Cushion Certification program includes a sales manual loaded with information on the benefits of using broadloom cushion. The manual is available to FCNews readers starting on page 25 of this issue. “This free manual gives you simple but important facts to help your customers make the best cushion choice,” said Bill Oler, CCC’s executive director. “The results will be happier customers and bigger paydays for you. In these few pages, you will find the information you need to begin turning the comfort of quality carpet cushion into cash—which will make your job more rewarding.”

When the program is completed, retailers and their personnel will be sent an official certificate by the Carpet Cushion Council, which they are encouraged to display as a symbol of quality salesmanship and industry support. “Our goal is to establish the golden logo of the Carpet Cushion Certification Program as a recognized symbol of commitment to superior customer satisfaction,” he said. Sales manuals don’t sell carpet cushion, Oler noted, retailers do. “Customers come to you to learn which carpet and cushion can meet their needs. In turn, you can meet—even exceed—their expectations with the expertise from this manual to make the carpet buying process a rewarding experience. “When they get home and realize what a difference quality carpet cushion makes in the comfort and appearance of their new carpet,” he added, “they will attribute that satisfaction to your knowledge and salesmanship.”

Store managers should encourage their sales staffs to participate in the program, Oler noted. It costs nothing to take part but time and the information gained can mean more money for your staff and increased revenues for your business. The booklet should also be passed along to salespeople as well, he said. “The more industry representatives who complete the program and display the certification, the more customers will learn to look for the logo in retail stores. “We spent a great deal of time getting some modifications to the booklet done,” Oler continued. “The new manual is an updated version with three additional sections. Last time, we doubled up on the number of quizzes in the booklet. This time, it will be a 32-page booklet but we will probably drop the four quiz pages that we had added in order to add some new sections.

“This program is the most successful we have ever run,” he concluded. “The certification gives you an edge over your competition and will help bring more customers directly to you. After all, why would a customer choose just any salesperson when she can come to you—a certified member—with the assurance she will be getting the most knowledgeable salesperson on staff to guide her in her carpet and cushion selection process?” For more information on the CCC and its Carpet Cushion Certification Program, call 203/637-1312. —Louis Iannaco